Vehicle cooling system and wire harness cooling structure

ABSTRACT

A vehicle cooling system includes a wire harness WH electrically connected to a plurality of heat-exchange target electric devices, a J/B electrically connected to the wire harness and a high-voltage battery, electric device medium pipes routed along a routing path of the wire harness and used for circulation of a heat exchange medium through the heat-exchange target electric devices, and a path switching unit connected to the electric device medium pipes so that the heat exchange medium can be circulated, and configured to form a heat exchange medium path in which the heat exchange medium is circulated through the plurality of heat-exchange target electric devices. The path switching unit is provided in the J/B and forms the heat exchange medium path according to a heat generation state of the heat-exchange target electric devices.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

The present application claims priority to and incorporates by referencethe entire contents of Japanese Patent Application No. 2019-087389 filedin Japan on May 7, 2019.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a vehicle cooling system and a wireharness cooling structure.

2. Description of the Related Art

In a vehicle such as an electric vehicle, heat is generated fromelectric devices such as a high-voltage battery and an inverter mountedon the vehicle and a wire harness that electrically connects theelectric devices when the vehicle travels or is charged from theoutside.

For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2007-035364discloses a shield conductor that dissipates heat generated by aconductor itself to a vehicle body by using the conductor as a heat pipein a wire harness that connects an inverter and a high-voltage batteryin the vehicle. Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2004-148984discloses a power cable cooling device, in which a power cable housed ina housing is arranged at a position facing a motor with a cooling deviceinterposed therebetween, and the power cable is cooled by the coolingdevice.

In a case where an energization current increases due to electrificationof the vehicle, as a size (physique) of an electric device mounted onthe vehicle or a diameter of the wire harness increases, a temperatureof the electric device and the wire harness increases by energization.

Therefore, there is a demand for construction of an efficient coolingsystem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle coolingsystem and a wire harness cooling structure that can efficiently cool anelectric device and a wire harness of which a temperature rises byenergization in a vehicle.

In order to achieve the above mentioned object, a vehicle cooling systemaccording to one aspect of the present invention includes a plurality ofheat-exchange target electric devices that are mounted on a vehicle andperform heat exchange with a heat exchange medium; a wire harness thatis electrically connected to the heat-exchange target electric devices;a high-voltage battery that supplies power to heat-exchange targetelectric devices that drive the vehicle among the plurality ofheat-exchange target electric devices; a heat consuming device thatconsumes heat of the heat exchange medium; an electrical junction boxthat is electrically connected to the wire harness and the high-voltagebattery; electric device medium pipes that are routed along a routingpath of the wire harness and are used for circulation of the heatexchange medium through the heat-exchange target electric devices; abattery medium pipe that is used for circulation of the heat exchangemedium through the high-voltage battery; and a path switching unit towhich the electric device medium pipes, the battery medium pipe, and theheat consuming device are connected so that the heat exchange medium iscirculatable and that forms a heat exchange medium path in which theheat exchange medium is circulated through at least two of the pluralityof heat-exchange target electric devices, the high-voltage battery, andthe heat consuming device, wherein the path switching unit is providedin the electrical junction box and forms the heat exchange medium pathaccording to a heat generation state of the heat-exchange targetelectric devices.

According to another aspect of the present invention, in the vehiclecooling system, it is possible to configure that the electrical junctionbox is formed integrally with the high-voltage battery.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, in thevehicle cooling system, it is possible to configure that theheat-exchange target electric devices that drive the vehicle areinverters, and the path switching unit forms the heat exchange mediumpath in which the heat exchange medium is circulated through at leastthe inverters and the high-voltage battery at the time of a start of thevehicle.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, in thevehicle cooling system, it is possible to further include a heater thatheats a heat exchange medium circulated in the electric device mediumpipe between the inverters and the electrical junction box, wherein theheater is driven when the heat exchange medium path is formed at thetime of the start of the vehicle.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, in thevehicle cooling system, it is possible to configure that one of theplurality of heat-exchange target electric devices is a connecterelectrically connected to a charge/discharge device outside the vehicle,and the path switching unit forms the heat exchange medium path in whichthe heat exchange medium is circulated through at least the connecterand the high-voltage battery at the time of charging and dischargingbetween the vehicle and the charge/discharge device.

In order to achieve the above mentioned object, a wire harness coolingstructure according to one aspect of the present invention includes awire harness that is electrically connected to heat-exchange targetelectric devices mounted on a vehicle and performing heat exchange witha heat exchange medium; electric device medium pipes that are routedalong a routing path of the wire harness and used for circulation of aheat exchange medium through the heat-exchange target electric devices;a lower case that is formed by arranging two electric device mediumpipes in parallel and connecting the two electric device medium pipes ina direction orthogonal to a direction in which the electric devicemedium pipes extend; and an upper case that closes an opening formedbetween the two electric device medium pipes, wherein the wire harnesspasses through an internal space formed in a state in which the lowercase and the upper case are assembled.

The above and other objects, features, advantages and technical andindustrial significance of this invention will be better understood byreading the following detailed description of presently preferredembodiments of the invention, when considered in connection with theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a schematic configuration ofa vehicle to which a vehicle cooling system according to an embodimentis applied;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a flow of a refrigerant inthe vehicle cooling system at the time of traveling of the vehicle;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a flow of the refrigerant inthe vehicle cooling system at the time of a cold start of the vehicle;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a flow of the refrigerant inthe vehicle cooling system at the time of fast charging;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a flow of the refrigerant inthe vehicle cooling system at the time of normal charging;

FIG. 6A is a perspective view illustrating a schematic configuration ofa lower case of a wire harness cooling structure, and FIG. 6B is aperspective view illustrating a schematic configuration of an upper caseof the wire harness cooling structure;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the wire harness cooling structureaccommodating a wire harness;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configurationof a connection port for connecting a path of the wire harness coolingstructure;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a path switchingcontrol in the vehicle cooling system; and

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating another example of the pathswitching control in the vehicle cooling system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, embodiments of a vehicle cooling system and a wire harnesscooling structure according to the present invention will be describedin detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the presentinvention is not limited by the following embodiments. Components in thefollowing embodiments include those that can be easily assumed by thoseskilled in the art or those that are substantially the same. Further,the components in the following embodiments can be variously omitted,replaced, or changed without departing from the spirit of the presentinvention.

Embodiment

A vehicle cooling system and a wire harness cooling structure accordingto an embodiment of the present invention will be described withreference to FIGS. 1 to 10. A vehicle cooling system 1 of the presentembodiment is mounted on a vehicle 100 and cools heat-exchange targetelectric devices 2 among a plurality of electric devices, an electricwire W, and a wire harness WH, or heat some of the heat-exchange targetelectric devices 2 as needed. The vehicle 100 is, for example, anelectric vehicle (EV). The vehicle cooling system 1 includes theheat-exchange target electric devices 2, the wire harness WH, ahigh-voltage battery 112, a chiller 106, a junction box (J/B) 110, abattery medium pipe 142, a battery heating medium pipe 142A, electricdevice medium pipes, and a path switching unit 113. Here, the electricdevice medium pipes include a converter medium pipe 141, an invertermedium pipe 143, a fast charging medium pipe 144, and a normal chargingmedium pipe 145.

Note that an X direction illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5 is a front-reardirection of the vehicle 100 and corresponds to a full length directionof the vehicle 100. In the front-rear direction of the vehicle 100, afront side is defined as the front, and a rear side is defined as therear. A Y direction is a direction orthogonal to the X direction, is aleft-right direction of the vehicle 100, and corresponds to a full widthdirection of the vehicle 100. A Z direction illustrated in FIG. 7 is adirection orthogonal to the X direction and the Y direction, is a heightdirection of the vehicle 100, and corresponds to a vehicle heightdirection of the vehicle 100. Each direction used in the followingdescription represents a direction in a state in which respective partsare assembled to each other unless otherwise specified.

The heat-exchange target electric devices 2 are, for example, mounted onthe vehicle 100 and perform heat exchange with a heat exchange medium R.The heat-exchange target electric devices 2 include, for example, thehigh-voltage battery 112, a DC-DC converter 111, a low-voltage battery102, inverters 103A and 103B, and an inlet 108.

The high-voltage battery 112 supplies power to a heat-exchange targetelectric devices 2 that drive the vehicle 100 among the plurality ofheat-exchange target electric devices 2. The heat-exchange targetelectric devices 2 here are, for example, the inverters 103A and 103B.The high-voltage battery 112 is a storage battery that supplies directcurrent (DC) power having a relatively higher voltage in comparison tothe low-voltage battery 102, and has a voltage of, for example, about400 V to 1000 V. The high-voltage battery 112 is electrically connectedto the J/B 110, supplies DC power to the inverters 103A and 103B via theJ/B 110, and drives motors 120A and 120B with alternating current (AC)power converted by the inverters 103A and 103B. The high-voltage battery112 is accommodated in a high-voltage battery unit 101 together with theJ/B 110 and the DC-DC converter 111.

The DC-DC converter 111 raises or lowers a DC voltage. The DC-DCconverter 111 is electrically connected to the J/B 110 and thelow-voltage battery 102. The DC-DC converter 111 receives high-voltageDC power from the J/B 110, converts the DC power into low-voltage DCpower suitable for the low-voltage battery 102, and outputs thelow-voltage DC power to the low-voltage battery 102. Further, the DC-DCconverter 111 receives low-voltage DC power from the low-voltage battery102, converts the DC power into high-voltage DC power suitable forhigh-voltage battery 112, and outputs the high-voltage DC power to theJ/B 110.

The low-voltage battery 102 is a storage battery that supplies DC powerhaving a relatively lower voltage than that of the high-voltage battery112, and has a voltage of, for example, about 12 V to 48 V. Thelow-voltage battery 102 is electrically connected to the DC-DC converter111. The low-voltage battery 102 is connected to the DC-DC converter 111via the wire harness WH to which a wire harness cooling structure 10 isapplied.

The inverters 103A and 103B are the heat-exchange target electricdevices 2 that drive the vehicle 100. The inverters 103A and 103Btypically convert DC power supplied from the high-voltage battery 112into AC power and supply the AC power to the motors 120A and 120B. Themotors 120A and 120B are driven by AC power supplied by the inverters103A and 103B to rotate wheels of vehicle 100.

The inlet 108 is a connecter, and is electrically connected to acharge/discharge device (not illustrated) outside the vehicle 100. Theinlet 108 is electrically connected to the J/B 110 via two wireharnesses WH to which the wire harness cooling structure 10 is applied.As illustrated in FIG. 4, one wire harness WH is routed along the fastcharging medium pipe 144. The other wire harness WH is routed along thenormal charging medium pipe 145 as illustrated in FIG. 5.

The wire harness WH connects between the respective electric devicesmounted on the vehicle 100. The wire harness WH includes a plurality ofelectric wires W used for power supply and signal communication. One endof each electric wire W is connected to an electronic componentaccommodated in the J/B 110. The other end of each electric wire W isconnected to each electric device via a connector or the like. The wireharness WH of the present embodiment is electrically connected to theheat-exchange target electric devices 2. The wire harness coolingstructure 10 is applied to a part of the wire harness WH that iselectrically connected to the heat-exchange target electric devices 2.

As illustrated in FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 7, the wire harness coolingstructure 10 includes the wire harness WH, the electric device mediumpipes 141 and 143 to 145, a lower case 11, and an upper case 12. Theelectric device medium pipe is formed in a pipe shape using a metalmaterial such as aluminum (Al). The lower case 11 is formed by arrangingtwo electric device medium pipes in parallel and connecting them in adirection orthogonal to a direction in which the electric device mediumpipes extend. In the lower case 11, two electric device medium pipes areconnected by a connection plate 121 in a tangential direction. The uppercase 12 closes an opening 122 formed between the two electric devicemedium pipes. The wire harness WH passes through an internal space 123formed in a state in which the lower case 11 and the upper case 12 areassembled. Note that although two electric wires W pass through theinternal space 123 in FIG. 7, but the present invention is not limitedthereto. One electric wire W and three or more electric wires W may passthrough the internal space 123.

The electric device medium pipe and the heat-exchange target electricdevice 2 are connected by a path connection port 130, for example, asillustrated in FIG. 8. In the path connection port 130, one opening sideof a tube stop 132 is inserted into a pipe-shaped tube 131, such thatthe tube 131 and the tube stop 132 are connected to each other. The pathconnection port 130 is fastened by a metal band 133. For example, in thepath connection port 130, the electric device medium pipe may be fixedto the tube stop 132 and the heat-exchange target electric device 2 maybe connected to the tube 131, or vice versa.

The chiller 106 is a heat consuming device (heat exchanger) that takesheat (consumes heat) from the heat exchange medium R circulated in aheat exchange medium path 104. The chiller 106 is arranged on a chillermedium pipe 140 in the heat exchange medium path 104. The chiller mediumpipe 140 is laid from the J/B 110, passes through the chiller 106 and apump 105, and is directed to the J/B 110 again.

The pump 105 is a circulation pump, and pumps the heat exchange medium Rin order to circulate the heat exchange medium R through the heatexchange medium path 104. Here, the heat exchange medium R is aso-called known refrigerant, such as Freon.

The J/B 110 is an electrical junction box, which is electricallyconnected to the wire harness WH and the high-voltage battery 112. TheJ/B 110 of the present embodiment is formed integrally with thehigh-voltage battery 112 as the high-voltage battery unit 101. The J/B110 collectively accommodates electronic components such as connectors,fuses, relays, branch units, and electronic control units thatconstitute connection components such as the wire harness WH.

The battery medium pipe 142 and the battery heating medium pipe 142A areused for circulation of the heat exchange medium R through thehigh-voltage battery 112, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 5. The batterymedium pipe 142 and the battery heating medium pipe 142A are laid insidebattery cells of the high-voltage battery 112. The battery medium pipe142 and the battery heating medium pipe 142A are connected to the J/B110 in the high-voltage battery unit 101. The battery medium pipe 142 isused for cooling the high-voltage battery 112, as illustrated in FIGS.2, 4, and 5. In the battery medium pipe 142, the cooled heat exchangemedium R is circulated to take heat from the high-voltage battery 112,for example, when the vehicle 100 is in a traveling state or in acharging state. Meanwhile, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the battery heatingmedium pipe 142A is used for heating of the high-voltage battery 112. Inthe battery heating medium pipe 142A, the heated heat exchange medium Ris circulated to heat the high-voltage battery 112, for example, at thetime of a cold start of the vehicle 100.

Some or all of the electric device medium pipes are routed along arouting path of the wire harness WH, and are used for circulation of theheat exchange medium R through the heat-exchange target electric devices2. The converter medium pipe 141 is used for circulation of the heatexchange medium R through the DC-DC converter 111 and the low-voltagebattery 102, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. The converter medium pipe141 is routed between the J/B 110 and the low-voltage battery 102 alongthe routing path of the wire harness WH with the wire harness coolingstructure 10. The inverter medium pipes 143 are used for circulation ofthe heat exchange medium R through the inverters 103A and 103B, asillustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. The inverter medium pipes 143 are routedalong the routing path of the wire harness WH with the wire harnesscooling structure 10. The inverter medium pipes 143 are separatelyarranged on the front of the vehicle and the rear of the vehicle tocorrespond to the inverter 103A arranged on the front of the vehicle andthe inverter 103B arranged on the rear of the vehicle, respectively. Aheater 107 is connected to the inverter medium pipe 143 arranged on thefront of the vehicle.

The heater 107 is arranged between the inverter 103A and the J/B 110,and heats the heat exchange medium R circulated in the inverter mediumpipe 143 in an ON state (FIG. 3). The heater 107 is driven when the heatexchange medium path 104 is formed at the time of the cold start of thevehicle 100. The inverter medium pipe 143 arranged on the rear of thevehicle is arranged so that the heat exchange medium R is circulatedthrough the inverter 103B without passing through the heater 107. Asillustrated in FIG. 4, the fast charging medium pipe 144 is formed whenthe vehicle 100 and the charge/discharge device are charged/discharged.The fast charging medium pipe 144 is formed particularly when fastcharging of the vehicle 100 is performed. The fast charging medium pipe144 is routed along the routing path of the wire harness WH with thewire harness cooling structure 10. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the normalcharging medium pipe 145 is formed when the vehicle 100 and thecharge/discharge device are charged/discharged. The normal chargingmedium pipe 145 is formed particularly when the vehicle 100 is normallycharged. The normal charging medium pipe 145 is routed along the routingpath of the wire harness WH with the wire harness cooling structure 10.A charger 109 mounted on the vehicle 100 is connected to the normalcharging medium pipe 145. The charger 109 is a so-called converter, andconverts, for example, domestic AC power into DC power when a power plugfor home use is connected to the inlet 108.

The inverter medium pipe 143 to the normal charging medium pipe 145, thebattery medium pipe 142, and the chiller 106 are connected to the pathswitching unit 113 so that the heat exchange medium R can be circulated,and the heat exchange medium path 104 in which the heat exchange mediumR is circulated through at least two or more of the plurality ofheat-exchange target electric devices 2, the high-voltage battery 112,and the chiller 106 is formed. The path switching unit 113 is providedin the J/B 110, and forms the heat exchange medium path according to aheat generation state of the heat-exchange target electric devices 2.The path switching unit 113 includes a plurality of solenoid valves 114forming the predetermined heat exchange medium path 104 and a pluralityof pipe branching units 146. The path switching unit 113 switches eachsolenoid valve 114 arranged at a branch destination or a branch sourceof each pipe branching unit 146 to an open state or a closed state,thereby forming the heat exchange medium path 104 according to the heatgeneration state of the heat-exchange target electric devices 2. Thepath switching unit 113 is electrically connected to an electroniccontrol unit (ECU, not illustrated) mounted on the vehicle 100, and someof the plurality of solenoid valves 114 are switched to the closed stateor the open state according to a control signal from the ECU.

The path switching unit 113 forms the heat exchange medium path 104 suchthat the heat exchange medium R is circulated through the inverters 103Aand 103B, the high-voltage battery 112, the DC-DC converter 111, and thelow-voltage battery 102 at the time of traveling of the vehicle 100(FIG. 2). The path switching unit 113 forms the heat exchange mediumpath 104 so that the heat exchange medium R is circulated in theconverter medium pipe 141, the battery medium pipe 142, the invertermedium pipe 143, and the wire harness cooling structure 10 connected toa part thereof, at the time of traveling of the vehicle 100.

The path switching unit 113 forms the heat exchange medium path 104 inwhich the heat exchange medium R is circulated through the inverters103A and 103B, the high-voltage battery 112, the DC-DC converter 111,and the low-voltage battery 102 at the time of a cold start of thevehicle 100 (FIG. 3). The path switching unit 113 forms the heatexchange medium path 104 so that the heat exchange medium R iscirculated in the converter medium pipe 141, the battery heating mediumpipe 142A, the inverter medium pipe 143, and the wire harness coolingstructure 10 connected to a part thereof, at the time of the cold startof the vehicle 100. At the time of the cold start of the vehicle 100,the path switching unit 113 forms the heat exchange medium path 104 sothat the heat exchange medium R heated by the inverters 103A and 103Band the heater 107 passes through the inverter medium pipe 143 and flowsto the battery heating medium pipe 142A to heat the high-voltage battery112.

The path switching unit 113 forms the heat exchange medium path 104 inwhich the heat exchange medium R is circulated through the inlet 108 andthe high-voltage battery 112 at the time of charging and dischargingbetween the vehicle 100 and the charge/discharge device (FIGS. 4 and 5).The path switching unit 113 forms the heat exchange medium path 104 sothat the heat exchange medium R is circulated in the battery medium pipe142, the fast charging medium pipe 144, and the wire harness coolingstructure 10 connected to the fast charging medium pipe 144 at the timeof fast charging between the vehicle 100 and the charge/dischargedevice. In addition, for example, the path switching unit 113 forms theheat exchange medium path 104 so that the heat exchange medium R iscirculated in the battery medium pipe 142, the normal charging mediumpipe 145, and the wire harness cooling structure 10 connected to thenormal charging medium pipe 145 at the time of normal charging betweenthe vehicle 100 and the charge/discharge device.

Next, a path switching control in the vehicle cooling system 1 will bedescribed with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10. In this processing, the pathswitching unit 113 opens and closes some of the solenoid valves 114according to the control signal from the ECU to form a desired heatexchange medium path 104.

In FIG. 9, in Step S1, the path switching unit 113 determines whether ornot the vehicle 100 is performing a cold start based on a control signalfrom the ECU. For example, the ECU monitors a cell temperature of thehigh-voltage battery 112, and transmits a control signal to the pathswitching unit 113 when the detected cell temperature is equal to orlower than a threshold. In a case where it is determined in Step S1 thatthe vehicle 100 is not performing a cold start, the processing proceedsto Step S3. On the other hand, in a case where it is determined that thevehicle 100 is performing a cold start, the processing proceeds to StepS2.

In Step S2, the path switching unit 113 opens and closes solenoid valves114 associated with the cold start of the vehicle 100 to form a heatexchange medium path 104 in which the heat exchange medium R iscirculated through the inverters 103A and 103B, the high-voltage battery112, the DC-DC converter 111, and the low-voltage battery 102 (FIG. 3),and the processing proceeds to Step S3. In Step S2, as described above,the path switching unit 113 forms the heat exchange medium path 104 sothat the heat exchange medium R is circulated in the converter mediumpipe 141, the battery heating medium pipe 142A, the inverter medium pipe143, and the wire harness cooling structure 10 connected to a partthereof.

In Step S3, the path switching unit 113 determines whether or not thevehicle 100 is in the traveling state based on a control signal from theECU. For example, the ECU monitors a vehicle speed of the vehicle 100,and transmits a control signal to the path switching unit 113 in a casewhere the detected vehicle speed is equal to or higher than a threshold.In a case where it is determined in Step S3 that the vehicle 100 is notin the traveling state, the processing ends. On the other hand, in acase where it is determined that the vehicle 100 is in the travelingstate, the processing proceeds to Step S4.

In Step S4, the path switching unit 113 opens and closes solenoid valve114 associated with the traveling state of the vehicle 100 to form aheat exchange medium path 104 so that the heat exchange medium R iscirculated through the inverters 103A and 103B, the high-voltage battery112, the DC-DC converter 111, and the low-voltage battery 102 (FIG. 2),and the processing ends. In Step S4, the path switching unit 113 formsthe heat exchange medium path 104 so that the heat exchange medium R iscirculated in the converter medium pipe 141, the battery medium pipe142, the inverter medium pipe 143, and the wire harness coolingstructure 10 connected to a part thereof.

In FIG. 10, in Step S11, the path switching unit 113 determines whetheror not the charge/discharge device is connected to the inlet 108 basedon a control signal from the ECU. In a case where it is determined inStep S11 that the charge/discharge device is not connected to the inlet108, the processing stands by (NO in Step S11). On the other hand, in acase where it is determined that the charge/discharge device isconnected to the inlet 108 (YES in Step S11), the processing proceeds toStep S12.

In Step S12, the path switching unit 113 determines whether the fastcharging is performed or the normal charging is performed based on acontrol signal from the ECU. For example, the ECU detects a chargingcurrent value of the high-voltage battery 112 by using a current sensor(not illustrated), and determines that the fast charging is performed ina case where the detected charging current value exceeds a threshold(FAST in Step S12). Note that although a case where the ECU determineswhether or not the fast charging is performed based on the chargingcurrent value of the high-voltage battery 112 has been described, butthe present invention is not limited thereto. The ECU may determinewhether or not the fast charging is performed according to a messagereceived from the charge/discharge device when a charging gun for fastcharging is attached to the inlet 108. In a case where it is determinedin Step S12 that fast charging is performed (FAST in Step S12), theprocessing proceeds to Step S13. On the other hand, in a case where itis determined that the fast charging is not performed (NORMAL in StepS12), the processing proceeds to Step S14.

In Step S13, the path switching unit 113 opens and closes solenoidvalves 114 associated with the fast charging of the vehicle 100 to forma heat exchange medium path 104 in which the heat exchange medium R iscirculated through the inlet 108 and the high-voltage battery 112 usedat the time of the fast charging (FIG. 4), and this processing ends. InStep S13, as described above, the path switching unit 113 forms the heatexchange medium path 104 so that the heat exchange medium R iscirculated in the battery medium pipe 142, the fast charging medium pipe144, and the wire harness cooling structure 10 connected to the fastcharging medium pipe 144.

In Step S14, the path switching unit 113 opens and closes solenoidvalves 114 associated with the normal charging of the vehicle 100 toform a heat exchange medium path 104 in which the heat exchange medium Ris circulated through the inlet 108 and the high-voltage battery 112used at the time of the normal charging (FIG. 5), and this processingends. In Step S14, as described above, the path switching unit 113 formsthe heat exchange medium path 104 so that the heat exchange medium R iscirculated in the battery medium pipe 142, the normal charging mediumpipe 145, and the wire harness cooling structure 10 connected to thenormal charging medium pipe 145.

As described above, the vehicle cooling system 1 according to thepresent embodiment includes the wire harness WH which is electricallyconnected to the plurality of heat-exchange target electric devices 2,the J/B 110 which is electrically connected to the wire harness WH andthe high-voltage battery 112, the electric device medium pipes which arerouted along the routing path of the wire harness WH and used forcirculation of the heat exchange medium R through the heat-exchangetarget electric devices 2, and the path switching unit 113 which isconnected to the electric device medium pipes so that the heat exchangemedium R can be circulated, and forms the heat exchange medium path 104in which the heat exchange medium R is circulated through the pluralityof heat-exchange target electric devices 2. The path switching unit 113is provided in the J/B 110 and forms the heat exchange medium path 104according to the heat generation state of the heat-exchange targetelectric devices 2.

With the above-described configuration, the vehicle cooling system 1according to the present embodiment can efficiently cool theheat-exchange target electric devices 2 such as the high-voltage battery112 and the inverters 103A and 103B, and the wire harness WHelectrically connected to the heat-exchange target electric devices 2.Therefore, it is possible to suppress an increase in a size of theelectric device and an increase in a diameter of the wire harness WH. Asa result, it is possible to suppress an increase in the size of theentire electric device and the wire harness WH mounted on the vehicle100, thereby contributing to a reduction in weight. In addition, sincethe electric device medium pipe used for circulation of the heatexchange medium R through the heat-exchange target electric devices 2 isrouted along the path of the wire harness WH electrically connected tothe heat-exchange target electric devices 2, the wire harness WH can beefficiently cooled, and the diameter of the electric wire W can bereduced as compared with a normal routing configuration. As a result, itis possible to save space for the routing path of the wire harness WH.

Further, in the vehicle cooling system 1 according to the presentembodiment, since the J/B 110 is formed integrally with the high-voltagebattery 112, the J/B 110 and the high-voltage battery 112 are notelectrically connected by the long wire harness WH and application ofthe wire harness cooling structure 10 to the wire harness WH can beomitted. Therefore, routing work of the wire harness WH can be reducedand assembly work can be made more efficient, in addition to costreduction.

Further, in the vehicle cooling system 1 according to the presentembodiment, the path switching unit 113 forms the heat exchange mediumpath 104 in which the heat exchange medium R is circulated through theinverters 103A and 103B and the high-voltage battery 112 at the time ofa start of the vehicle 100. Therefore, the heat exchange medium R can beheated by heat generated in the inverters 103A and 103B and thehigh-voltage battery 112 can be heated by circulating the heat exchangemedium R through the high-voltage battery 112. As a result, for example,cold startability of the vehicle 100 can be improved.

Further, the vehicle cooling system 1 according to the presentembodiment further includes the heater 107 that heats the heat exchangemedium R circulated in the inverter medium pipe 143 between theinverters 103A and 103B and the J/B 110, and the heater 107 is drivenwhen the heat exchange medium path 104 is formed at the time of thestart of the vehicle 100. Since the heat exchange medium R heated bybeing circulated through the inverters 103A and 103B is further heatedby the heater 107, the heated heat exchange medium R can be circulatedthrough the high-voltage battery 112 at the time of the cold start ofthe vehicle 100 and a state of the high-voltage battery 112 at the timeof the cold start can be improved.

Further, in the vehicle cooling system 1 according to the presentembodiment, the path switching unit 113 forms the heat exchange mediumpath 104 in which the heat exchange medium R is circulated through theinlet 108 and the high-voltage battery 112 at the time of the chargingand discharging between the vehicle 100 and the charge/discharge device.Accordingly, the heat exchange medium R can be circulated through theinlet 108 and the high-voltage battery 112 to thereby efficiently coolthe inlet 108 and the high-voltage battery 112 at the time of thecharging and discharging of the vehicle 100.

The wire harness cooling structure 10 according to the presentembodiment includes the wire harness WH mounted on the vehicle 100 andelectrically connected to the heat-exchange target electric devices 2,and the electric device medium pipes routed along the routing path ofthe wire harness WH and used for circulation of the heat exchange mediumR through the heat-exchange target electric devices 2. The wire harnesscooling structure 10 includes the lower case 11 and the upper case 12,and the wire harness WH passes through an internal space 123 formed in astate in which the lower case 11 and the upper case 12 are assembled.The lower case 11 is formed by arranging two electric device mediumpipes in parallel and connecting them in a direction orthogonal to adirection in which the electric device medium pipes extend. The uppercase 12 closes an opening 122 formed between the two electric devicemedium pipes. With the above-described configuration, the wire harnessWH routed in the vehicle 100 and electrically connected to theheat-exchange target electric devices 2 can be efficiently cooled.

In the above-described embodiment, the ECU monitors the temperature ofthe battery cell of the high-voltage battery 112, and transmits acontrol signal to the path switching unit 113 when the detected celltemperature is equal to or lower than the threshold. However, thepresent invention is not limited thereto, and the path switching unit113 may be configured to monitor the temperature of the battery cell ofthe high-voltage battery 112. Further, the ECU monitors the vehiclespeed of the vehicle 100, and transmits a control signal to the pathswitching unit 113 when the detected vehicle speed is equal to or higherthan the threshold. However, the present invention is not limitedthereto and the path switching unit 113 may be configured to monitor thevehicle speed of the vehicle 100.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the heat-exchange targetelectric devices 2 that drive the vehicle 100 are the inverters 103A and103B. However, in a case where heat exchange with the heat exchangemedium R is performed also for the motors 120A and 120B, the motors 120Aand 120B may be the heat-exchange target electric devices 2.

In the above-described embodiment, the chiller 106 may be replaced witha radiator mounted on the vehicle 100, or may be used together with theradiator.

The vehicle cooling system and the wire harness cooling structureaccording to the present embodiment can efficiently cool the electricdevice and the wire harness of which a temperature rises by energizationin a vehicle.

Although the invention has been described with respect to specificembodiments for a complete and clear disclosure, the appended claims arenot to be thus limited but are to be construed as embodying allmodifications and alternative constructions that may occur to oneskilled in the art that fairly fall within the basic teaching herein setforth.

What is claimed is:
 1. A vehicle cooling system comprising: a pluralityof heat-exchange target electric devices that are mounted on a vehicleand perform heat exchange with a heat exchange medium; a wire harnessthat is electrically connected to the heat-exchange target electricdevices; a high-voltage battery that supplies power to heat-exchangetarget electric devices that drive the vehicle among the plurality ofheat-exchange target electric devices; a heat consuming device thatconsumes heat of the heat exchange medium; an electrical junction boxthat is electrically connected to the wire harness and the high-voltagebattery; electric device medium pipes that are routed along a routingpath of the wire harness and are used for circulation of the heatexchange medium through the heat-exchange target electric devices; abattery medium pipe that is used for circulation of the heat exchangemedium through the high-voltage battery; and a path switching unit towhich the electric device medium pipes, the battery medium pipe, and theheat consuming device are connected so that the heat exchange medium iscirculatable and that forms a heat exchange medium path in which theheat exchange medium is circulated through at least two of the pluralityof heat-exchange target electric devices, the high-voltage battery, andthe heat consuming device, wherein the path switching unit is providedin the electrical junction box and forms the heat exchange medium pathaccording to a heat generation state of the heat-exchange targetelectric devices.
 2. The vehicle cooling system according to claim 1,wherein the electrical junction box is formed integrally with thehigh-voltage battery.
 3. The vehicle cooling system according to claim2, wherein the heat-exchange target electric devices that drive thevehicle are inverters, and the path switching unit forms the heatexchange medium path in which the heat exchange medium is circulatedthrough at least the inverters and the high-voltage battery at the timeof a start of the vehicle.
 4. The vehicle cooling system according toclaim 3, further comprising: a heater that heats a heat exchange mediumcirculated in the electric device medium pipe between the inverters andthe electrical junction box, wherein the heater is driven when the heatexchange medium path is formed at the time of the start of the vehicle.5. The vehicle cooling system according to claim 4, wherein one of theplurality of heat-exchange target electric devices is a connecterelectrically connected to a charge/discharge device outside the vehicle,and the path switching unit forms the heat exchange medium path in whichthe heat exchange medium is circulated through at least the connecterand the high-voltage battery at the time of charging and dischargingbetween the vehicle and the charge/discharge device.
 6. The vehiclecooling system according to claim 3, wherein one of the plurality ofheat-exchange target electric devices is a connecter electricallyconnected to a charge/discharge device outside the vehicle, and the pathswitching unit forms the heat exchange medium path in which the heatexchange medium is circulated through at least the connecter and thehigh-voltage battery at the time of charging and discharging between thevehicle and the charge/discharge device.
 7. The vehicle cooling systemaccording to claim 2, wherein one of the plurality of heat-exchangetarget electric devices is a connecter electrically connected to acharge/discharge device outside the vehicle, and the path switching unitforms the heat exchange medium path in which the heat exchange medium iscirculated through at least the connecter and the high-voltage batteryat the time of charging and discharging between the vehicle and thecharge/discharge device.
 8. The vehicle cooling system according toclaim 1, wherein the heat-exchange target electric devices that drivethe vehicle are inverters, and the path switching unit forms the heatexchange medium path in which the heat exchange medium is circulatedthrough at least the inverters and the high-voltage battery at the timeof a start of the vehicle.
 9. The vehicle cooling system according toclaim 8, further comprising: a heater that heats a heat exchange mediumcirculated in the electric device medium pipe between the inverters andthe electrical junction box, wherein the heater is driven when the heatexchange medium path is formed at the time of the start of the vehicle.10. The vehicle cooling system according to claim 9, wherein one of theplurality of heat-exchange target electric devices is a connecterelectrically connected to a charge/discharge device outside the vehicle,and the path switching unit forms the heat exchange medium path in whichthe heat exchange medium is circulated through at least the connecterand the high-voltage battery at the time of charging and dischargingbetween the vehicle and the charge/discharge device.
 11. The vehiclecooling system according to claim 8, wherein one of the plurality ofheat-exchange target electric devices is a connecter electricallyconnected to a charge/discharge device outside the vehicle, and the pathswitching unit forms the heat exchange medium path in which the heatexchange medium is circulated through at least the connecter and thehigh-voltage battery at the time of charging and discharging between thevehicle and the charge/discharge device.
 12. The vehicle cooling systemaccording to claim 1, wherein one of the plurality of heat-exchangetarget electric devices is a connecter electrically connected to acharge/discharge device outside the vehicle, and the path switching unitforms the heat exchange medium path in which the heat exchange medium iscirculated through at least the connecter and the high-voltage batteryat the time of charging and discharging between the vehicle and thecharge/discharge device.
 13. A wire harness cooling structurecomprising: a wire harness that is electrically connected toheat-exchange target electric devices mounted on a vehicle andperforming heat exchange with a heat exchange medium; electric devicemedium pipes that are routed along a routing path of the wire harnessand used for circulation of a heat exchange medium through theheat-exchange target electric devices; a lower case that is formed byarranging two electric device medium pipes in parallel and connectingthe two electric device medium pipes in a direction orthogonal to adirection in which the electric device medium pipes extend; and an uppercase that closes an opening formed between the two electric devicemedium pipes, wherein the wire harness passes through an internal spaceformed in a state in which the lower case and the upper case areassembled.